You think you're SPECIAL?#!
Posted 07-14-2008 at 06:38 PM by Monmo
You aren`t special until your elekk gets stuck in a tree.
I recently got bitten by a certain bug. Some call it tankitis, others call it "megalomaniacal egomania." I've always been retardedly self-importantly pretentious, but I realized now that it was to the extreme.
YES@!#% I know it's been said before: Being tank generally means we lead the party, which leads to us leading the raid, which has to us deciding the fate of the evening. We tend to be the quarterback. It's only natural that we develop attitudes. And that`s exactly what I did. But I developed one WHILE KNOWING I was developing one.
It started small. I was a nice guy. I'd be laid back, throwin` a few jokes here and there. But after weeks and weeks of tanking the same stuff, rather than just noticing the small mistakes others made, I`d comment on them. Mistakes that wouldn't cause wipes (because I'm a Paladin tank and LOLCONSECRATE) but little stuff, like a Balance Druid not keeping Thorns up on me 100% of the time, a RetPal friend for not throwing up Seal of the Crusader on bosses, a Rogue attacking Gruul from the front.
I just started to feel that others should put in the same amount of work in tanking an instance that I do. I forgot that people play to have fun... and my playing as hard as I do is my own choice. But unlike them -- I don`t get the luxury of slacking off. If I slack off, we wipe.
It was with that logical attitude that I slowly devolved into a prick. (Well, more of a prick, akakakakaka.) Anyone who made a mistake was promptly called on it. I'd leave the group if I were the first person to the stone. I'd respond to "Looking for healer and tank for [heroic daily]!" with "LF heals, tank? That means you're just 3 bored DPS, sorry, not interested."
I became such a dick that even my friends--real life friends that I'd known since grade school--stopped wanting to group with me because I was so overly critical. Which in turn lead to me not having fun as well. And then all of us weren't having fun. Everyone was sore. But it wasn't until I had my revelation that things became OK again.
If you`re still reading this, chances are you`re searching for a point. The point is: Tanking is power. You get drunk on it, addicted to it. Take notice of yourself when you're being overly critical of others who are just enjoying the game. Don't succumb to the typical Asshole Main Tank Syndrome. Yes, GENERALLY you have to work harder than others do in the game. That`s the path you choose when you specced Protection. You could take the easier road and spec DPS (or healing), but you do what you love.
I guess the overriding point is: Don`t be a dick. Which is something you already know. Just know when to catch yourself on that slippery slope to Jerkville.
Total Comments 28
Comments
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I spilled ice-tea over my table because of that picture
Well I'm not the perfect tank either so I guess I instinctively wouldn't call out others mistakes but I'll watch out for that.Posted 07-14-2008 at 06:45 PM by Edgar 
- Yep, it's happened to me before. (the prick part, not the elephant stuck in the tree part!) Multiple times I'm sure, but a day later, I simmer down and go back to status quo. I did remember clearly a H-Mgt run where the last mob in the pack was sheeped and I was ignoring it to grab a pat, but the mage proceeded to fireball it and nearly wiped us from the aoe. It was my guildie and I blew my top, yelled at him saying "only a tank is supposed to break cc!" I felt bad afterwards.
Posted 07-14-2008 at 09:30 PM by Elyvern 
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This is really, really poingnat and hits close to home. Good post.Posted 07-14-2008 at 10:24 PM by Horacio - I often feel the same way, although I haven't exploded at people (yet) because I'm one of the most self-restrained people I know of. Little things annoy me quite a lot =/
Very good read, this should be on the front page for sure.Posted 07-15-2008 at 12:22 AM by Arrivan - Starkvegas!!! NO WAY..... You a dog?
Posted 07-15-2008 at 01:39 AM by Pasucon - Admittedly I took the backwards slope from that perspective, I use to be really confident and maybe a tad bit of an elitist as a healer, quietly scoffing at the nub DPS that pulled threat or etc.
Once I started tanking I became overly critical, every mistake, even if It wasnt my fault, I comb through combat logs, WWS reports, everything to try and stop it from happening again, tanking will surely be the death of me
Posted 07-15-2008 at 06:35 AM by Danielmi -
I have been told by my raid leader and guild leader to STFU several times because i was being critical of my raiders around me during certain fights. They have pretty much learned to just let me call out what i see and help the fight progress but then i get sidetracked with the "Lets not fall asleep on the tank now healers!".Posted 07-15-2008 at 07:13 AM by Magnuss - I had something similar happen. Except the RL friend that got pissed was just as big a prick as me.
I have had people say they like how efficient our raids run. Then people say they get upset when I call out for the tenth time that only 3 people are targetting demon chains or corrupted totems. Well you can't have it both ways. Keep in mind I NEVER curse people out or insult them. I will merely point out what someone needs to do and tell them they need to do it. . . repeatedly. . . until it gets done.
Winning is fun. Let's play to have fun. But as a raid leader we have the responsiblity to the raid to call things out. Melee not being behind on a boss is inexcusable. Call it out. People taking 10 seconds to switch to a high priority target is inexcusable.
The bottom line is that we aren't going to keep everyone happy. No matter how nice you point something out, the person on the other end is going to consider it an attack at times and there's no way around it.
We can work on eliminating the unintended hurt feelings, but some feelings are going to be hurt no matter how nice you are.Posted 07-15-2008 at 07:25 AM by Leytur -
Guilty on many counts. This is a great piece for tanks to read.Posted 07-15-2008 at 07:29 AM by Honorshammer - I find I do the same thing as a tank, though honestly there's a fine line to tread. If you're too nice, the group doesn't go anywhere. If you're too mean, people leave. Trying to find the sweet spot of "we pull fast and serious - let's get our badges and leave" is tough.
Hilariously, I have a holy priest alt I often heroic and raid on, and it's an immediate and unconscious role shift. We wipe due to a stupid dps or tank move? "It's okay, we'll get 'em next time! Good effort!" If I were tanking, you can bet your bippy I'd have said something else. And I get pissed if the tank / raid leader doesn't come down clearly on whomever made the mistake. Even if it was me.Posted 07-15-2008 at 07:55 AM by larsberg - Exactly. I had a friend come to me asking about how to find a tank for her guild. I referenced this idea that a tank must be confident and self assured but it is indeed a fine line between that and arrogance and egoism.Quote:there's a fine line to tread.
Its sometimes difficult to translate bold leadership from RL to an MMO. Some people simply fail at leadership in general. Its not about knowing what to do its how to get people to do it. If you rip people apart for mistakes, unless the environment dictates that its appropriate (I dunno, bleeding edge raiding guild?), you risk alienating them.
You need to inspire confidence and to an extent, a suspension of convention because it doesn't take much for people to stop and realize..."wait a minute....this is a VIDEO GAME...why is this asshole yelling at me?"
The key thing I told my friend was that any prospective tank needed to love thier job. People will pick up on insincerity faster than anything.Posted 07-15-2008 at 08:33 AM by Horacio - When pugging I find its best to /tell people when they are doing something I don't like rather than say it to the whole group. I find that as long as I'm polite about it, and the party is otherwise doing well, they will listen and respect what I have to say.
Posted 07-15-2008 at 10:44 AM by ratman - ** Reading **
"That means you're just 3 bored DPS, sorry, not interested."
** Spitting Diet Pepsi on monitor while choking **
Although as a Jr. Tank I don’t fully feel that I can comment on the traits and pitfalls of leadership, I can’t help but chime in on being an A-hole and a Dick.
In this world you’ve got to seek your joy where you find it. Part of that is learning to enjoy your quirks and seeing the endless entertainment in them.
I know just what your guildies and friends were thinking—
“What an A-Hole, OMG, I crapped myself laughing”
IMHOP, it’s time to put the “Fun” back in DIS “FUN” CTION. Yeah, you may loose the bubble from time to time. Yeah, your PUG Mates may mutter a bit, but it’s all part of the fun and all part of giving yourself permission to be human.
** Still laughing, starts cleaning monitor **Posted 07-15-2008 at 11:01 AM by Nekt - This is one of the most difficult traps not to fall into. I think it is imporant to remember there are differences between making mistakes, which we all do (find me one pally tank who has NEVER forgotten to put up righteous fury) and being repeatedly sloppy and careless.
You as a leader need to model your responses to the needs of the individual and the group. Yelling often isn't the best solution. Often you can be more effective with a well targeted "I expect more from you, you can do better I know you can, lets go." than yelling.
Instead of raid members who shut down and turn off... you have inspired members who are willing to try even harder for you and your team!Posted 07-15-2008 at 11:12 AM by jfalcon - To be prefectly honest I'd rather someone else lead the raid while I'm tanking.
I find the healers (or anyone who stands in the back) have a better prespective on what's going at anytime. I'm too pre-occupied between my cooldowns, health, raid warning, my offtank(s) and aggro to worried if some aoe broke sheep.
I find leadership in a raid should be broken up in sections: tanks, paladins & healers, and dps classess who give out buffs with an over raid leader (who imo shouldn't be the MT).
The raid leader should be the player who can best motivate the raid to success.
On personal note, you don't have to tank to be prick. I've pugged enough to know there's always one jackass in the group who's quick to point out other player's mistake or who tries to cover their own mistakes by blaming others others.
You work with the group that you have. Bitch fights over vent are the quickest way to wipe a raid.
If johnny-pyro-blast-before-the-pull doesn't understand how threat works, it's your responsible to explain it to him. Maybe he didn't know. i've certainly worked with enough dps players who didn't know how threat works.Posted 07-15-2008 at 11:52 AM by Daavos - Great read, and something that I really have to consider now that I am co-raid leader, and main tank at once. I felt real tempted to give a holler to the healers that were casting flash of light agains 5-6k hits. Then I thought of what you said. "Please cast flash of light-faster
" Painful to type, but, alot nicer than what I was thinking.Posted 07-15-2008 at 12:50 PM by thedrawrf - This is off topic but on a the same time i think. I have run into being a prick a bunch of times as a jr. tank and IRL. Being from my area, living in others outside my home city/state, interacting with people from other backgrounds, and a general hard life(wah wah) i find im a little more prickish than is needed most of the time. But like is brought up time and time again it really depends on the person/people. In my neighborhood if you say "hey kid dont be so damn lazy with (insert random buff/debuff here)" there not gonna be offended, but say that to someone from another background/area and they might cry/get angry/scream whatever. Also being in the USMC ive learned 2 things about leadership.
1. As the leader most people will see you as a dick no matter how nice you say something due to the fact that your in charge.
2. Some people just arent cut out for the leadership position. Whether its because of the power, stress or whatever it might be.
Back on topic, As Tanks we are almost forced into a leadership role by what our role dictates and brings with it. Its something that is almost inescapable and whether someone florushes or craps out is up to them. Even as a mid level tank im also an officer with my guild and im the 1 of 3 prot spec in a guild with around 20 warriors and and roughly 10 pallys(the other two are tankadins). I dont wanna TELL people i wanna TEACH people what i know and HELP them in areas i can. The only thing i cant deal with are multiple repeats of the same mistake, I would prefer not to be a dickface I dont think anyone(especially another grown man or woman) wants me screamin at them on VC in my terrible Boston accent,lol.Posted 07-15-2008 at 03:46 PM by Stograth - I had the same problem, i solved doing this: Level up a hunter(yeah stupid to level, and easy to play), and geared up on kara(and badges) used just for za bear runs... lil forum tips here and there... and there it is my bm hunter, spam the macro butom ,pop some cds, and make 1.3k sustained dps on za bosses... its relaxing... and i use the hunter just for this... za timed runs. Results: im still happy and joker tanking mother shahraz(my actual progression) in my main threat o matic warrior, and put my feet on the table and eat some pizza while spaming my 1 buttom super dps hunter to relax.
AH btw, my hunter have a bear mount, my warrior dont... lolPosted 07-15-2008 at 05:13 PM by Zacch -
Far from special
Well, I'm a different kind of personality for a tank. Or, maybe I'm the personality that most tanks are but like to put forth a different aura? Who's to say?
I'm a very laid-back person. I don't particularly like giving orders, but then I don't like taking them either. The reason I finally rolled a prot warrior (and subsequently made him my main) after all my other toons was that I was tired of not getting what I wanted. I was tired of relying on others, basically.
I have no problem whatsoever letting someone else lead the raid or group; I already know my job. In fact, I'd prefer someone else lead the group and just let me worry about holding aggro. If it's a fight I know, and the leader is proving inept, fine. I'll step in and basically steal it from him/her. Otherwise, I like my happy place (watching my shield block cooldown and cycling SS, Rv, Dv, Dv) too much to bother with chastising others.
Edit: just saw a post above mine about hunters. I'd say my personality type fits better with a hunter: more of a lone wolf. Alas, I played my hunter all the way to level 68, then lost interest. He's been 68 for nearly 12 months now
Posted 07-15-2008 at 07:26 PM by tobarstep
Updated 07-15-2008 at 07:31 PM by tobarstep (saw something else) - im still at the point of, i notice mistakes, i correct them myself, or 9 times out of 10 wont say anything. Occasionally on the offchance, ill pst them what they were doing wrong.
i have no clue however how i sound when im explaining fights to new people, because so much of what i tank now feels like an old bad habbit.
I know why i rolled a tank, and it as to do exactly what i said above. To correct other peoples mistakes. i rolled every other class in the game(bar rogues, i still refuse to play them), and got tired of retarded dps, pisspoor tanks, and flighty healers.
as a result of my attitude, and relative skill at tanking, everyone ive ever been in a guild with remembers me, and even people i pugged heroics with do.Posted 07-15-2008 at 08:47 PM by breaklance
